Author: George Mamian
Disastrous consequences of activities at Akhtala ore mining and processing enterprise of Armenia
The tailings of the ore mining and processing enterprise of Akhtala, Armenia, are being dumped into Debed River for a long time.
The Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter on Saturday visited the sites from where the tailings of this enterprise flow into the river (PHOTOS).
There are numerous such places in Akhtala and neighboring communities, and the local residents complain about this environmental disaster.
The dump where these tailings are to flow into is completely filled, and that is why they are dumped into the river and they flow into Akhtala town.
We could not get any respective comments from the said enterprise.
We present the photographs and the footage without any comments.
Armenia starts active cooperation with Greece and Cyprus
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Thursday Armenia starts active cooperation with Greece and Cyprus YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Cooperation between Diaspora communities of Armenia, Greece and Cyprus is further strengthened, reports Armenpress. A trilateral meeting between the delegations led by Armenian diaspora minister Hranush Hakobyan, Commissioner for Humanitarian and Foreign Affairs of the President of Cyprus Fotiu Fotis and deputy foreign minister of Greece Terens – Nikolaos Quick was held in the Armenian Diaspora ministry on December 14. The Armenian minister said active cooperation has been established between the Armenian-Greek and the Armenian-Cypriot Diaspora communities. “This cooperation launched by the memorandum of understanding signed between Armenia and Cyprus. Our trilateral meeting between Greece, Armenia and Cyprus is taking place for already the second time. Our cooperation especially between the Diaspora of the countries will continue. The friendship of Armenian, Greek and Cypriot peoples started in 5-6th centuries. We all know that a very well-organized and interesting Armenian community lives both in Greece and Cyprus”, the minister said and thanked the Greek and Cypriot governments for enabling the Armenian communities to conduct an active work in these countries. “Our main goal as a result of negotiations is to actively work with the youth, organize youth meetings in different countries”, she said. There are plans to organize educational and cultural events in three countries. Hranush Hakobyan expressed her deepest gratitude to the two states for adopting a law against the denialism of the Armenian Genocide. Commissioner for Humanitarian and Foreign Affairs of the President of Cyprus Fotiu Fotis said it is necessary to continue the trilateral cooperation by such meetings and negotiations. He noted that the three countries have a historically formed friendship in all spheres, cultural, political, religious and etc. “We have developed the cooperation strategy on Diaspora affairs in Nicosia setting two important goals. Firstly, we need to promote our Diaspora to cooperate, know each other, actively work in cultural, educational and other spheres. The Diaspora of the two countries is successfully cooperating in several countries, like in US, France and UK. The cooperation in the US is more active, a memorandum has been signed which is encouraging. The second goal is the cooperation between the governments of these countries”, he said. Greek deputy FM Terens – Nikolaos Quick said the most important is that the governments of the three countries are able to work with the Diaspora youth. According to him, they have a vision, power and can greatly help solving the most important issues. “Yesterday Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian met with his Greek counterpart. During the meeting the Greek FM proposed that our countries cooperate at the Diaspora level. We are here and ready to cooperate with Armenia, and we look forward to 2018 to be full of programs”, the Greek deputy FM noted. Armenian Diaspora ministry and the foreign ministry of Greece will sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation over Diaspora affairs on December 15.
Lavrov: We have no doubts towards Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Russia appreciates the firm position of Belarus not to politicize the format of the "Eastern Partnership" on the issue of the Russian Federation and develop normal relations with the European Union, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday.
"We very much appreciated the firm position of Belarus along with a number of other participants in the Eastern Partnership against such attempts," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Belarussian television channel STV.
"In the final declaration, despite the desire of some participants of the summit, there are no otherworldly things not directly related to the relations of the focus countries with the EU, we see a big role, including Belarus, which did not allow this process to be politicized, ideologized and which sees in it its fundamental interest to develop normal relations with Western Europeans. I think that here we did not discern any discrepancies … We have no doubts and suspicions regarding Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan," the Russian Foreign Minister noted.
Sports: Henrikh in a fight for future: Shape up or it’s the end, Hen
Daily Mirror, UK Friday Henrikh in a fight for future: Shape up or it's the end, Hen by DAVID McDONNELL MANCHESTER UNITED outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan is facing a battle to convince manager Jose Mourinho that he deserves to reclaim his place. Mkhitaryan's form has deserted him to such an extent Mourinho has axed him from United's last two match-day squads, despite the attacking midfielder being fully fit. Mourinho left Mkhitaryan (above) out of the squad that beat Newcastle 4-1 - and made the 28-year-old travel to Basel before omitting him from Wednesday's disappointing 1-0 Champions League defeat in Switzerland. Mourinho hopes the stigma of being dropped will jolt the Armenian from his slumber. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £27million in July 2016, Mkhitaryan enjoyed an impressive start this season - producing a handful of assists to apparently cement his place as United's No.10. But his form dropped off, with Mourinho and his United coaches deciding he no longer warranted his place and agreeing to drop him completely. Mkhitaryan has been on the receiving end of Mourinho's 'tough love' approach before. He was exiled for nearly two months last season following a calamitous 45 minutes in United's 2-1 derby defeat by City. The playmaker returned to become one of United's most effective players as they won the League Cup and Europa League. Mourinho has preferred Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in attacking roles recently, while Jesse Lingard is in favour again - and £89m Paul Pogba back in business after injury.
Military authorities probe fatal landmine explosion in Artsakh
The military investigative committee has launched an investigation into the death of three soldiers.
As reported earlier, three soldiers of an Artsakhi military base died on November 21 as result of a landmine explosion. Lieutenant Gegham Zakaryan, Private Sargis Abrahamyan and Private Sargis Melikyan were engaged in engineering work at the military position when the blast occurred.
Another soldier, Private Narek Hoveyan, was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds and is in serious condition. A criminal case was initiated in the 3rd garrison investigative department.
Armenian men’s team to play with Azerbaijan
On November 3, in the 6th round of the European Chess Championship, Armenian men’s national team will meet with the Azerbaijani team. (Source: armnoc.am)
After the fifth round, our team takes the 4th place.
The women’s team is in the 13th place after losing to Georgia, and will play with the Hungarian team tomorrow.
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/01/2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Armenia Reports Another Massive Heroin Seizure . Emil Danielyan Armenia - Official photographs on the seizure of 105 kilograms of heroin reported by the State Revenue Committee. The Armenian customs service said on Wednesday that it has found and confiscated more than 100 kilograms of heroin from a Turkish-owned truck that crossed into Armenia from Iran. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) said the truck driven by a Turkish man underwent an X-ray inspection at the Meghri crossing on the Armenian-Iranian border before being escorted to a customs warehouse in Yerevan. According to an SRC statement, customs officers there examined it more meticulously and found 105 kilograms (233 pounds) of heroin hidden inside the heavy vehicle's bodywork. The statement added that the smuggling case has been referred to Armenia's National Security Service (NSS). The latter did not issue any statements on the massive drug bust as of Wednesday afternoon. It was thus not clear whether the truck driver, identified as Ferdi Ozdemir, was taken into custody. The SRC released photographs of the truck and the drug consignment allegedly found inside it. It also said that the vehicle belongs to a cargo company registered in Georgia. The company's reported name, Omertransport, suggests that it has Turkish owners. Turkish nationals were already implicated in what was the biggest heroin seizure in Armenia's history reported by the authorities in Yerevan in January 2014. Armenian customs officers confiscated at the time as much as 850 kilograms of the Class A drug from a Georgian-registered truck that also entered the country from Iran. Armenia - Osman Ugurlu, a Turkish citizen sentenced by an Armenian court to 19 years in prison on drug trafficking charges. The truck's Georgian driver as well as a Turkish citizen, Osman Ugurlu, were arrested and subsequently sentenced by an Armenian court to 17 and 19 years in prison respectively. Armenian prosecutors claimed during their trial that Ugurlu conspired with two other Turks to transport huge amounts of heroin from Iran to Europe via Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. They said the Turks set up a cargo firm in Georgia for that purpose in 2013. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the accusations. Iran is thought to be the main source of drug trafficking through Armenia. Scores of Iranians have been imprisoned in Armenia on corresponding charges over the past two decades. "Most drugs are smuggled in trucks driven across the Iranian border crossing at Meghri," the U.S. State Department said in its 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. It said that with U.S. and European Union assistance Armenia is "improving its ability to detect illegal narcotics shipments." The report also noted that closed borders with Turkey an Azerbaijan make Armenia "less attractive for drug trafficking" and that drug abuse among Armenians is "modest." Armenian Bill Against Domestic Violence Criticized By Ruling Party . Astghik Bedevian Armenia - Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesman for the ruling Republican Party, at a news conference in Yerevan, 14May2017. The Armenian government will amend its bill aimed at combatting domestic violence in response to criticism voiced by conservative members of the ruling Republican Party (HHK), Justice Minister Davit Harutiunian said on Wednesday. The bill drafted by Armenia's Justice Ministry would introduce criminal and administrative liability for specific cases defined as domestic violence. It would also obligate the state to protect female victims by providing them with special shelters or banning their violent spouses from approaching them and even their children. The proposed legislation is strongly backed by women's rights groups campaigning for much tougher government action against the practice. But it has met with fierce resistance from some conservative groups and nationalist public figures. Several senior HHK figures have added their voiced to the criticism. Eduard Sharmazanov, a deputy parliament speaker and the HHK spokesman, demanded on Wednesday that the Justice Ministry revise provisions of the bill that "contradict traditional Armenian family values." "There are many contentious clauses that require explanations," he told reporters. Sharmazanov complained that the bill is vague on "psychological violence" and "economic violence" defined by it. "Tell me, what is psychological violence?" he asked. "If my [underage] daughter or my son says that he or she wants to smoke and I don't let them do that, will they be able to say that `my dad subjects me to psychological violence?'" Sharmazanov said the authors of the bill must also clarify who would be running the special shelters financed by the state. Harutiunian said, meanwhile, that some provisions of the draft law will be "specified" in order to address concerns voiced by the critics from the HHK and other groups. But he made clear that the amendments will not be significant. In that regard, the minister stressed the importance of making "psychological violence" in Armenian families an administrative or criminal offense. "Successful countries are the ones which promptly react to psychological violence so that it does not escalate into physical violence," he said. A senior representative of the Armenian police called for the passage of the bill when she spoke at parliamentary hearings in Yerevan on October 17. The police recorded 3,571 cases of domestic violence from 2012-2016. According to the Yerevan-based Women's Resource Center, more than 50 Armenian women have been beaten to death and murdered otherwise by their husbands or other relatives in the last five years. Armenia Slides In Investment Climate Rankings . Sargis Harutyunyan The World Bank has downgraded Armenia's position in its annual survey on ease of doing business around the world despite reporting a slight improvement in the country's investment climate. Armenia ranked 47th in the latest Doing Business survey which assessed economic conditions in 190 nations with a range of specific indicators. It was 38th in last year's global rankings. The country's overall score has improved over the past year. The authors of the World Bank report believe that the Armenian authorities further simplified property registration procedures and facilitated businesses' access to electricity supplies. In a statement, the bank's Yerevan office attributed the worsening of Armenia's position to "significant improvements" of other countries' business environments as well as "methodological adjustments and data revisions." It did not comment further. Prime Minister Karen Karapetian declined on Wednesday to comment on the latest World Bank assessment released on Tuesday. He said he will talk about it at an upcoming news conference. Ever since he took office in September 2016 Karapetian has regularly pledged to improve the domestic investment climate. In its policy program approved by the parliament in June, Karapetian's government committed itself to placing Armenia among the top 20 countries in the Doing Business rankings "as a result of reforms of the next four or five years." President Serzh Sarkisian set this goal in May. Earlier this year, the government promised 49 policy measures for that purpose. Those include stronger government support for small and medium-sized businesses, better investor protection, easier access to credit, and more simple rules for obtaining construction permits. Some government officials claimed in August that this should help Armenia move up to 26th place in Doing Business already this year. Artak Manukian, a Yerevan-based economist, downplayed the World Bank report's practical impact on investor confidence. "In Georgia, for example, there has been a real fight against corruption," he said. "Investors see that and that translates into a rise in foreign direct investment. Doing Business is the probably weakest of signals [to investors.] Unless it is backed up by practice, it will remain on paper." Presidential Staff Set For Sharp Downsizing . Tatev Danielian Armenia -- The presidential palace in Yerevan. The chief of President Serzh Sarkisian's staff revealed on Wednesday that it will shrink by half after Armenia switches to a parliamentary system of government in April. Armen Gevorgian said that staff cuts in the presidential administration are already in progress. "We began the year with 410 employees, reduced [their number] to 385 by June 1 and to 330 by October 1," Gevorgian told a standing committee of the Armenian parliament. It is expected that the next president of the republic will have only 180 to 200 staffers, he said. Government funding for the presidential staff will be cut accordingly. In Gevorgian's words, the government's draft budget for next year sets aside 2.4 billion drams ($5 billion) for that purpose, down from 4.9 billion drams budgeted for this year. Sarkisian's second and final presidential term ends in April. His successor will be elected by the parliament, rather than popular vote, and have largely ceremonial powers. In line with a controversial constitutional reform enacted by Sarkisian in 2015, most of the currently sweeping presidential powers will be transferred to the prime minister and his cabinet that must enjoy the backing of the parliamentary majority. Sarkisian's Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) controls the majority of seats in the National Assembly elected in April 2017. Neither the outgoing president nor his party has indicated so far who could become Armenia's next head of state. It also remains unclear whether Sarkisian is planning to become prime minister or take up another state post after the end of his decade-long presidency. Press Review "Zhamanak" reports that with its draft budget for next year the Armenian government has revealed plans to lay off more than 5,000 public sector employees. The paper is sure that none of them is a high-ranking official. "On one hand, this should have been a welcome development because it presupposes budgetary savings," it says. "But this is the case only in theory because in practice budgetary savings in Armenia require totally different # legal-judicial steps." The paper says that public funds are primarily misused and wasted by senior and mid-level bureaucrats, not the kind of people that will lose their jobs next year. "Zhoghovurd" comments on the appointment of a former pro-government parliamentarian, Ruben Sadoyan, as Armenia's new ambassador to Georgia. "This name certainly says nothing to the general public," writes the paper. "It turns out that during the 10 long years of his parliamentary activity, from 2007 to 2017, Ruben Sadoyan did not utter a single word in the National Assembly # In other words, he only pressed [electronic voting] buttons there. And now Serzh Sarkisian is sending this guy to Georgia as ambassador to a country which is of strategic importance to Armenia. Serzh Sarkisian treats the posts of Armenia's ambassadors abroad as gifts which he hands out in order to please one or another individual or to keep them employed." "This appointment is quite noteworthy," writes "Haykakan Zhamanak." The paper cites reports that Sadoyan was named after the Georgian government refused to accept Sarkisian's previous pick of Armenian ambassador in Tbilisi, political analyst Sergey Minasian. It says that Sadoyan is a figure close to former Transport Minister Gagik Beglarian, who is said to have a "warm rapport" with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. "Aravot" scoffs at Armenian Apostolic Church clerics' public condemnations of Halloween celebrations in Armenia increasingly popular with young people. "Is this the most important issue facing our society?" the paper asks, arguing that the church has never publicly denounced government corruption or other chronic abuses in the country. Instead, it says, they extol corrupt officials and tax-evading oligarchs that finance the construction of new churches. (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
AMAA Celebrates Centennial in Dazzling, Memorable Banquet
BY FLORENCE AVAKIAN
TEANECK, N.J. – The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was created a hundred years ago to help and protect survivors of the Armenian Genocide who were desperately clinging to life. From those soul-searing and heartbreaking beginnings, the AMAA within a century has mushroomed into an awesome worldwide organization focusing on education, churches, humanitarian relief and camps in 24 countries, a stupendous accomplishment.
On Saturday evening, October 21, close to 400 enthusiastic supporters came together to celebrate this unique feat at a Centennial Banquet at the Marriott Teaneck Glenpointe in NJ, entitled “Faithful to our Legacy,” and to honor long time AMAA philanthropists Edward and Pamela Avedisian, and Doreen and Charles (posthumously) Bilezikian.
Guests of honor present included Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Grigor Hovhannissian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.N. Zohrab and Mrs. Irina Mnatsakanian, Prelacy Vicar General Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian representing the Armenian Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and the Very Rev. Fr. Vasken Karayan representing the Armenian Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. By e-mail, Armenian Catholic Bishop Michael Mouradian sent a congratulatory message.
Also attending were AMAA President Dr. Nazareth Darakjian and Dr. Ani Darakjian, Joyce Philibosian Stein and Joe Stein of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation, the Telfeyan Evangelical Foundation with several family members, Dr. Carnegie Calian, Badvelis (ministers) from all over the world including Canada, Europe, Armenia, the Middle East, and Australia, and representatives from the AGBU, AAHPO, Hamazkayin, Tekeyan Cultural Association, and the ARS.
Following an elegant reception, and the singing of the U.S. National Anthem by four young students from the Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School of Los Angeles and the Armenian Anthem by students from the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School, Armenian Evangelical World Council President Rev. Berdj Djambazian shared an inspirational invocation. Dedicated Banquet co-chairs Drs. Celeste Telfeyan Helvacian and Dr. Nurhan Helvacian warmly welcomed the spirited crowd, briefly extolling the spectacular achievements of the 100-year-old Association.
SEEDS PLANTED IN FERTILE GROUND
Master of Ceremonies Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, a beloved long-time activist and benefactor in the Armenian community, presented an eloquent tribute to the history of the AMAA. Quoting the Bible, he recalled that “if seeds are planted in fertile ground, it gives forth lots of fruit, ten-fold,” then added, “thirty-fold, a hundred-fold.”
“The AMAA for a hundred years has been planting those seeds here and all over the world. I am proud to say that I am the result of these selfless efforts,” he stated, expressing his gratitude for the AMAA’s superior educational benefits that he and his wife, noted art curator Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian, received during their youth.
In a sad tribute, he remembered the passing that week of one of the most stalwart AMAA members Khoren Nalbandian, and expressed sincere condolences to his wife Seta Nalbandian, an AMAA Board member.
He pointed out the unique AMAA accomplishments from the days of the Genocide, to the time of the 1988 earthquake, the independence of Armenia and United Nations membership, the victorious liberation of Artsakh, and the massive Syrian relief efforts in Aleppo and Damascus.
Dr. Hovanessian thoughtfully recounted that the AMAA is “strongly nationalistic but emphasizes education and social services, has a heart but with the Christian spirit in it.” Then paraphrasing the immortal Movses Khorenatzi, he said, “Born by mortals, may the AMAA be eternal.”
STANDING ON SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
AMAA President Dr. Nazareth Darakjian recounted a brief history of the AMAA, and the “immense sacrifice” of giants Stephen Philibosian, Rev. Dr. Giragos Chopourian and Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian and the “precious legacy” that needs to be passed on to future generations.
“The common theme of the organization is children, from the orphan and child care sponsorships to the Milk Fund, to the summer camps, to the after-school day centers, to the Avedisian School in Armenia and all the Armenian Evangelical schools in the Near East and the U.S.” The work also extends to the youth, young adults, the students of Haigazian University, college scholarships, and the rebuilding of the churches in Armenia, Artsakh, Syria and the entire Armenian Diaspora, he said.
To accomplish these goals, the AMAA has committed itself to a Centennial Fundraising Campaign to raise 20 million dollars. He stated proudly that the Campaign, which started a year ago, has already reached 35 percent of its goal. With this Banquet initiating the momentum which will go around the world, the AMAA hopes to “reach the finish line in California exactly 12 months from now,” he declared with emphasis, after which an AMAA video was presented focusing on the children, schools, and the summer camps in Armenia, Lebanon, Syria and the U.S.
Delighting the audience were mezzo soprano Hasmik Meikhanedjian and pianist and composer Hayk Arsenyan, two New York-based musicians who have performed in many venues. Meikhanedjian with heartfelt emotion sang a number of well-known Armenian songs, accompanied by Arsenyan who also played solos, including a passionate rendition of Khatchaturyan’s “Sabre Dance.”
BANQUET HIGHLIGHT
Well known California educator and former AMAA President Dr. Joseph Zeronian, and former AMAA Board Vice President Peter Kougasian, Esq., Assistant District Attorney under NY District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, shared the honor of introducing the honorees, Edward and Pamela Avedisian.
Dr. Zeronian referred to his mother, who grew up in a German orphanage in Kharpert, as his inspiration. He focused on the crucial importance of education which “followed the tradition of the Bible and those dedicated missionaries.” He pointed out the tremendous accomplishments of the Avedisians who for the past 20 years have “enhanced the education in Armenia, with the building of the best school in the Malatya-Sepastya district, Yerevan’s poorest community, as well as several other projects. “They have followed the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive,” he stated.
To the surprise of many, an inspiring example of courage was displayed by Mr. Kougasian who came to the podium, but due to a neurological problem, was unable to speak. In a digital text where his speech was recorded, he recalled that on a special family trip to the Mekhitarist Monastery on Venice’s San Lazzaro Island, a non-Armenian tour guide told his son, “You should study a subject until you love it, because only then will it become a model of God’s love. That is the foundation upon which the Avedisian School is built,” Mr. Kougasian emphasized. “And when the Avedisians did this, Armenia already had free public school education, and the highest literacy rate of any country in the world.”
The Avedisians created the School for excellence, Kougasian continued. “This School represents a different mission, a belief that is peculiarly Armenian. It is the belief that true excellence in education can lead the sensitive soul on a path to God.”
Edward and Pamela Avedisian, in expressing appreciation, stated that the AMAA is the “major factor in projecting Armenian into the 21st century, but there still is a tremendous need to expand into many areas.”
Avedisian then introduced honorees Charles (posthumously) and Doreen Bilezikian who renovated the Avedisian School and playground in Shushi. With great feeling, Doreen Bilezikian described the “deplorable conditions” in the Women’s Hospital in Yerevan, another renovation project undertaken by the Bilezikians.
In recognition of the great philanthropy by both the Avedisians and the Bilezikians, special handmade gifts were presented to them. AMAA President Dr. Nazareth Darakjian presented the Avedisians with a magnificent Michael Aram-designed gift of Noah’s Ark, and AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian gave Doreen Bilezikian a lovely painting of the Bilezikian couple. The honorees and the AMAA President and Executive Director/CEO together participated in the cutting of the ceremonial AMAA anniversary cake which was distributed to all.
Devoted AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian, who delivered the closing remarks, expressed deep appreciation to all involved in this memorable celebration. Khanjian, who has served as Chairman of the West Coast’s Armenia Fund, Americans for Artsakh, and the Merdinian Evangelical School Board, also founded and directed the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF).
He reiterated four promises. To God, the promise is to “stay the course and carry out our mission with renewed vigor and energy all around the globe to our kin and beyond.” To the AMAA members, a “commitment to integrity, accountability, transparency and full financial disclosure.” To the next generation, “good stewardship, and the availability of resources for the challenging needs of the future.” And “for our people, to impact the spiritual and physical well-being of our people in Syria, Artsakh, Armenia, the Near East, Europe and the Americas.”
The AMAA, “Faithful to Our Legacy and Embracing the Future,” strides forward into its second century. “Embracing the Future, let us stride together,” Khanjian declared to a standing ovation.
The evening that will long be remembered came to a conclusion with the Hayr Mer sung by all, and the benediction recited by Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian, Armenian Evangelical World Council (AEWC) Executive Director.
AEWC President Rev. Berdj Djambazian eloquently voiced the emotions of many when he said, “I saw one thing that has never died, or vanished in the last 100 years, that of compassion, the ability to enter the skin of hurting, suffering people, feel the pain and come up with a remedy. The AMAA started, and continues to this day, implementing this compassion through God.”
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/10/2017
Tuesday, Armenian PM Visits Iran Iran - President Hassan Rouhani meets with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetian in Tehran, 10Oct2017. Prime Minister Karen Karapetian met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday at the end of an official visit to Tehran that focused on ongoing efforts to expand Armenian-Iranian commercial ties. He reportedly discussed with Rouhani and other Iranian leaders the implementation of joint energy projects and ways of removing barriers to bilateral trade. "Armenia attaches great importance to its warm and friendly relations with neighboring Iran which have strong historical foundations and are based on mutual interests," Karapetian was quoted by his press office as telling Rouhani. The Iranian president reaffirmed his commitment to closer ties with Armenia. "Expansion of relations with Armenia, a friendly country and a neighbor, has been of significance for Iran," he said, according to the IRNA news agency. He said more needs to be done to utilize the economic potential of bilateral relations. Rouhani gave the same assurances to President Serzh Sarkisian when they met in Tehran the day after he was sworn in for a second term in early August. Iran - Iran's First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri (R) greets Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetian at a welcoming ceremony in Tehran, 9Oct2017. "We have no limits on cooperation with Armenia in the political, economic and cultural fields," Iran's First Vice-President Eshaq Jahagiri told reporters after holding talks with Karapetian on Monday. "We both affirmed that we are ready to enhance the volume of Armenian-Iranian relations and are determined to remove obstacles on that path," Karapetian said for his part. An Armenian government statement said the two men reviewed the ongoing construction of a new power transmission line which should significantly increase Armenian electricity exports to Iran. Supplies of Iranian natural gas to Armenia will also soar as a result.Karapetian also discussed this project at a separate meeting on Tuesday with Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Energy Minister Sattar Mahmoudi. Three other Iranian ministers held separate meetings with their Armenian opposite numbers accompanying Karapetian. Also on the agenda of Karapetian's talks was the upcoming creation of a "free economic zone" near Meghri, an Armenian town on the Iranian border. Karapetian urged Iranian firms to set up shop there and gain tariff-free access to markets in Russia and other members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). They could also take advantage of Armenia's preferential trade regime with the European Union, he said. Iran has been negotiating with the EEU on a free-trade deal strongly supported by Armenia. Karapetian was reported to tell Jahangiri that Yerevan is "ready to provide necessary support" for a speedy conclusion of those talks. According to official Armenian statistics, Armenian-Iranian trade stood at a relatively modest $173.5 million in the first eight months of this year. Iran accounted for less than 5 percent of Armenia's overall foreign trade. More European Support For Judicial Reform In Armenia . Karlen Aslanian Armenia - A district court building in Yerevan, 27Jun2017. The Council of Europe launched on Tuesday a new program aimed at helping to reform Armenia's judicial system that has long been strongly influenced by the government and law-enforcement bodies. The program financed by the European Union and Britain will assist the Armenian authorities in amending the national legal framework for the judiciary in line with the country's sweeping constitutional changes that will take effect in April. The changes backed by Council of Europe experts are meant to make Armenian courts more independent. Officials from the Strasbourg-based organization said another objective of the EU-funded project is to improve the existing system of disciplinary accountability of Armenian judges. The latter rarely acquit criminal suspects or rule against the government. The head of the EU Delegation in Armenia, Piotr Switalski, urged the authorities to "ensure full independence of judiciary" as he spoke at the official launch of the project in Yerevan. He said they should rule out any pressure on the courts from the executive branch or prosecutors. Switalski also stressed the importance of "anti-corruption measures in the justice system." Human rights activists attending the event were skeptical about the authorities' stated commitment to a serious judicial reform. "We've been hearing about that since the 1990s," one of them, Avetik Ishkhanian told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). Ishkhanian said that the authorities resist judicial independence because it would endanger their hold on power. "If the judiciary is the main mechanism for guaranteeing your rule, then there will be selective justice, an atmosphere of impunity and political trials," he said. Another activist, Artur Sakunts, also said that Armenia has no independent courts as evidenced by the imprisonment of opposition figures regarded by him as political prisoners. Justice Minister Davit Harutiunian, who was also present at the event, admitted that the judicial system lacks a "sufficient degree of independence." But he insisted that the authorities are committed to reforming it. "If human rights activists start praising a country, you must leave it immediately," Harutiunian told RFE/RL's Armenian service. "Human rights activists are supposed to bring up new issues. So they are right to criticize and they should keep doing that." IMF Also Upgrades Armenian Growth Forecast Armenia - Workers at a textile factory in Yerevan, 5Oct2017. Economic growth in Armenia will be faster than expected this year even if it falls short of the Armenian government's revised projections, according to a report released by the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday. The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook predicts that the Armenian economy will grow by 3.5 percent after stagnating in 2016. The fund forecast a growth rate of around 3 percent in June. It warned of downward risks at the time, saying that increased remittances from Armenians working abroad and prices of copper, the country's number one export item, "may not endure." Most of those multimillion-dollar remittances come from migrant workers in Russia which fell into recession in 2015. Russia is also Armenia's leading trading partner. "After two years of recession, economic activity in Russia is projected to expand by 1.8 percent in 2017, helped by stabilizing oil prices, easing financial conditions, and improved confidence. Over the medium term, however, growth is expected to remain about 1.5 percent," says the latest IMF report. This might explain why it expects economic growth in Armenia to slow to 2.9 percent in 2018. The Armenian government had forecast a 3.2 percent growth rate for 2017 over a year ago. Official statistics showed the country's Gross Domestic Product increasing by around 5 percent in the first half of this year on the back of a double-digit rise in industrial output. Finance Minister Vartan Aramian said late last month that full-year growth will likely come in at 4.3 percent. In its draft state budget unveiled by Aramian last week, the government said that growth should accelerate to 4.5 percent in 2018. Press Review "Zhoghovurd" reacts to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's claim that Armenia has dropped its "preconditions" for the resumption of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The paper suggests that Aliyev referred to Yerevan's insistence on the implementation of confidence-building agreements which he reached with President Serzh Sarkisian and international mediators in Vienna and Saint Petersburg last year. This means, it claims, that Sarkisian and the Minsk Group co-chairs have stopped demanding Baku's compliance with those agreements. "Regardless of whether or not the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet [later this year,] the situation of no-war-no-peace in the region will persist because the status quo is beneficial for both the conflicting parties and the mediators," Fyodor Lukyanov, a Russian political analyst, tells "168 Zham." "Also, there is still no solution acceptable to both sides. As things stand now, no resolutions of the conflict is in sight." He is therefore pessimistic about the outcome of the upcoming Aliyev-Sarkisian talks. "Zhamanak" comments on Prime Minister Karen Karapetian's official visit to Tehran which began on Monday with his meetings with Iran's Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and parliament speaker Ali Larijani. The paper notes a lack of substance in their public statements made after the talks. "Armenian-Iranian relations continue to lack strategic projects," it says. "Haykakan Zhamanak" reports on an upsurge of exports of Armenian livestock to Iraq and Qatar observed in the last few months. Citing figures released by the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture, the paper says that Armenia exported more than 3,000 cattle and over 5,000 sheep in September alone. It says that this is why the retail price of beef in Armenia rose by around 8 percent late last month. "Given the substantial increase in export volumes, it cannot be excluded that fresh meat become will become even more expensive in Armenia," it says. (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org